Musee de l'Orangerie/Museum Pass
 

Does anyone know if the musee de l'Orangerie is open again? If so, how much is admission. Considering whether to buy the museum pass or not...any thoughts on whether it is worth the price?

Orangerie is not open. Museum Pass is worth the € if you use it to your advantage.

Anyone know when it is opening again? I am there in August.

Sometime, yet to be determined, after August.

The most recent estimate I saw is that the Orangerie might re-open by 2007. That probably means somewhere about 2009, as each estimate gets pushed up 2 years or so. The problem is that there are "significant" archaeological remains beneath the building that are being excavated.

I didn't know about the archeological excavations. At least it begins to make some sense, because the reopening of the Orangerie was looking like a joke.

Given the history, they could as well put a permanent "will reopen next year" sign on it.

Re: the museum pass. I bought a 5 day pass and in the end it turned out it would have been cheaper had I bought separate admissions. I visited: Louvre, Picasso, Pantheon, St Chapelle (twice), Orsay. The 5 or so extra Euros I spent on the pass vs the separate admission prices was probably worth it as I did not have to wait in any lines (except for the security check at St Chapelle.) I could have forged ahead and gone to several more museums to get my money's worth but I really I enjoyed the churches (mostly free)and the street scenes better than the museums. The Louvre was outlandishly crowded, not fun at all!

I thought the museum pass was well worth it. Not only can you bypass admission lines, but you can make multiple visits to certain museums. I think it would be draining to try to see all of the Louvre in one visit, but spread over three or four visits, it is very enjoyable. We also made multiple visits to L'Orsay and enjoyed it each time.

My advice is to find out which museums you want to see; find out if they have a free day during your visit; find out their hours and closing days; then determine which are covered by the pass. It it looks like the pass will save you money, or even break even, get one. Plan your visits to maximize visits to pass museums during the term of your pass, and visit other museums when your pass has expired.

Thanks for all the input. Sad about the musee b/c I loved all the Monets there.
As to the pass, how bad are the museum lines usually? Is that alone a reason to get one, even if you will not be saving any money?

Sometimes the lines ar elong, sometimes short. It's all the luck of the draw, although opening time at the Louvre is nearly always a mob scene.

We once arrived at the Orsay about 9:30 a.m. on a Tuesday and had the Impressionist floors to outselves for about an hour--it just depends on the season, schedule of school-children visits, tours, and so on. However, the Museum Pass can be a lifesaver when things are crowded.

If you love Monet then go to the Marmottan. It is not on the museum pass. The pass may or may not be economical for you. It is really the Orsay that the lines can be tremendous so if you would devise a day for the Orsay and perhaps the Rodin or another musee, it would be worth at least a one day pass. Even the Louvre has an entrance (from the Metro Louvre/Rivoli) that the lines are not long. I don't think a 5 day pass would ever pay off unless you are absolutely doing EVERY museum.

For more information on the Musee de l'Orangerie, try this URL:

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France...rangerie.shtml

The article includes details on the archaeological digs: remnants of a city wall built during the Thirty Years War. They were discovered during the expansion phase of the museum, which is intended to add gallery space and other facilities in the basement.

Has anyone been able to discover whether/when it's reopening this year? The website above says 2006. Thanks.

This is one of those things where you will have to just wait until you get there. The date has been pushed out numerous times.

The website mentions it's reopening in spring 2006, no specific date that I could find.

I saw this in France Guide a few days ago

"Starting in June, Monet’s Waterlilies series can be viewed as it was intended and demanded by the famous Impressionist artist, in natural daylight. The Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collection, 144 paintings by Cézanne, Renoir, le Douanier Rousseau, Matisse, Derain, Picasso, Modigliani, Soutine, Utrillo, Marie Laurencin, etc., will be housed in a new gallery, as part of the Orangerie’s reorganization plans. "

But I won't believe it's open till I walk thru the doors!

I have been to Paris three times in the past 8 years hoping it would be open with no such luck. Go to the Marmottan, Monet's water lily's are spectacular. Barb